Dress Code
SEPTEMBER 2026
We have high expectations of our learners in respect to dress code. We expect them to dress smartly and take pride in the way they present themselves. Our dress code centres around respect for oneself, other people and the world around us. It is for this reason that we will not accept learners who do not make an effort to dress smartly; having a top button undone, a tie unfastened and an untucked shirt, shows a lack of respect for the serious learning ethos in which we believe at Honywood and will, therefore be consistently challenged.
Within this framework of respect, our expectations for our dress code are as follows:
*Blazer – Grey blazer with school motif. Sold via Anglia Sports & Schoolwear – two styles available.
Shirt/blouse – Shirts/blouses can be short or long sleeved but must be white or pale blue with a top button suitable for wearing with a tie.
*Tie – Two designs are available: a Blue tie with a yellow stripe for Cohorts 7 and 8 and a Black tie with a yellow and blue stripe for Cohorts 9-11.
Learners may choose to wear trousers, shorts or a skirt according to the specific guidelines below.
Trousers - trousers must be formal cut, smart, plain and black. Trousers must be worn at the waist to maintain a smart, formal appearance. They must be full-length and touch the top of the shoe. Trousers must not be made of denim or jean material, nor can they be stretchy, skinny, leggings, or jeggings. Low-rise, cropped, tapered, excessively flared, or narrow/tight-fitting styles are not permitted and they must not feature studs or rivets. The waist of the trousers must also have a button or fastening that is not purely decorative.
OR
Shorts – Shorts must be a black tailored style. Parents/Carers can view the appropriate styles on the Anglia Sports & Schoolwear website. Shorts may be purchased directly from Anglia Sports & Schoolwear or sourced independently, as long as they match the correct tailored style.
OR
*Skirt (Optional) – Wearing a skirt is completely optional. If a learner chooses to wear a skirt, it must be the official black Honywood branded skirt featuring the school motif, which can be purchased from Anglia Sports & Schoolwear. Skirts must be knee-length or below, worn at the waist, and maintained with a formal appearance. Short skirts are not acceptable, so please ensure the appropriate length is ordered. Skirts must be worn with black, opaque tights. Ankle or knee-high socks are not permissible as an alternative.
Shoes – Shoes must be smart, traditional black leather or faux-leather with a flat or low heel (less than 5cm) suitable for school. Shoes with sports logo branding are unacceptable, this includes trainers/canvas/plimsolls/casual type footwear or unbranded copies of trainer style shoes. Boots are not acceptable.
OPTIONAL V-Neck Jumper - Royal Blue for Cohorts 7 and 8 and Black for Cohorts 9-11. A woollen blend V-neck jumper is optional and may be worn underneath the blazer but not instead of the blazer. Sweatshirt material is not permitted. Jumpers can be sourced independently as long as they are the correct style, or alternatively purchased via Anglia Sports & Schoolwear.
|
*These items of uniform are embroidered with the school motif and can only be purchased online from Anglia Sports & Schoolwear (www.yourschoolwear.co.uk). Other items of school uniform, i.e. trousers/shirts, can be purchased from any uniform supplier. |
Coats and Bags – If your child chooses to wear a coat, it can be any colour, but it must not be a tracksuit top, hoodie, or sweatshirt. Bags must be practical and large enough to safely carry a range of textbooks, exercise books and an iPad.
Jewellery – Jewellery should be kept to an absolute minimum. We accept that some learners will choose to have their ears pierced, however, the issue of body piercing, whether this be in the ear or elsewhere, raises a number of potential health concerns. We will not, therefore, accept any learner attending with piercings other than those in their ears. If ears are pierced, only small stud earrings may be worn.
We recognise that certain religious traditions require specific items of jewellery or piercings (such as nose studs). Families wishing to request an exception on religious grounds should contact their child’s Learning Group Leader so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Nails – For safety reasons, false nails of any kind, including acrylic, press-on, or glue-on nails are strictly prohibited. Learners are welcome to have their nails painted, but they must be their own.
If you are ever unsure about the suitability of any clothing or footwear, please contact your child’s Learning Group Leader in the first instance who will be happy to advise on the suitability of the clothing/footwear. We want to prevent parents/carers from finding themselves in the difficult position of having purchased items that do not meet the expectations of our dress code. Please do not rely on "school wear" labels in high street shops, retailers often try to boost sales by marketing trainer-style shoes as ‘school wear’. Check with us first if in doubt.
On the rare occasion that a learner may not be able to adhere to the dress code due to unforeseen circumstances, parents/carers should send them in with a signed/dated note and/or email their Learning Group Leader. If learners are wearing alternative footwear because shoes are broken or do not fit they need to report to their Cohort Leader when they arrive in to school, who will arrange for them to be issued with a pair of loan shoes. The issuing of loan shoes is intended to help learners in these circumstances. Refusal to wear loan shoes will attract a consequence in the same way as refusal to follow instructions from staff. We would much prefer not to have this conversation, and it can be easily avoided by ensuring that your child is wearing suitable shoes for school. We would expect that this would be rectified as soon as possible and usually within one week, allowing families adequate time to resolve the particular issue. If there are financial reasons why this is not possible, please contact the school directly, as we may be able to offer support.
Learners required to wear trainers for medical reasons must provide a doctor’s note. A note from a parent/carer can only be accepted for a maximum of one week for temporary medical issues. The expectation is that learners will wear black or dark-coloured footwear so that the difference is less noticeable.
Uniform items can become worn over time. Learners no longer present a smart appearance if their clothing is ripped, torn, or badly damaged and these items must be repaired or replaced. If financial difficulties make replacing uniform items an issue, please contact the school directly, as we may be able to offer support.
Honywood School is committed to ensuring our dress code does not discriminate, either directly or indirectly, against any learner on the grounds of sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, or disability. We welcome open dialogue with parents, carers, and learners regarding any reasonable adjustments required to accommodate medical, or cultural/religious needs. Please contact your child’s Learning Group Leader in confidence to discuss any specific requirements.
We will be hosting a school uniform day during the summer holidays on Thursday 23rd July between 11:00am and 1:00pm, offering an opportunity for your child to try on items before purchasing. Alternatively, uniform can be purchased at any time online from Anglia Sports & Schoolwear via the Honywood School Anglia Sports & Schoolwear Portal
We would also like to remind families that there is a Facebook page set up (not managed by the school), in which families can buy and sell second hand uniform. If this is of interest to you, please search for “Honywood Second Hand Uniform”.
PE KIT
All learners must obtain the following kit:
| Indoors | Outdoors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please note that a Honywood PE t-shirt and shorts are the only compulsory branded items. These, along with the optional outerwear, can be purchased online from Anglia Sports & Schoolwear (www.yourschoolwear.co.uk/honywood-school-148-c.asp)
If you choose to buy an optional Honywood top for outdoor PE, please note that the 1/4 zip sweatshirt is not permitted for rugby due to the zip safety hazard.
We also strongly recommend that all learners wishing to participate in rugby and/or football are equipped with shin pads and a gum shield.
All other items listed (socks, trainers, studded boots, base layers, shin pads, and gum shields) can be purchased from any retailer of your choice.
In cold weather learners are welcome to wear a navy blue colour base layer under their t-shirts/tops or shorts. In wet weather, a towel may be required for learners to dry off/shower.
Should your child need to be excused from PE for medical reasons then please provide a letter explaining the issue. Learners will be expected to bring their kit so that they can still participate in the learning session in a non-physical role, such as a coach or official, where fitness allows.